Zakai Zeigler has been a force for the Tennessee Volunteers in his four years in Knoxville. The senior guard has increased his minutes and points per game each season; this year, he averages 33.8 minutes and 11.1 points per game.
However, the senior isn’t the only one who is finding success in college basketball. His brother, Armoni Zeigler, plays for the Saint Peters Peacocks.
Ziegler Brothers Growing Up on Basketball
The two brothers grew up on Long Island. They found their love for basketball at a young age, constantly getting rebounds for one another or playing 1v1. The two played so much that their hoop was continually on its last legs, whether it had no net or had to be held up by multiple objects so it wouldn’t tip over.
Although the hoop was never 100%, the two wouldn’t have traded it for anything.
“Just to be able to go outside and play and not to have to run the park or go look around … that was big for us,” Zakai said.
The Ziegler brothers have always been each other’s biggest supporters. If Zakai had a specific jersey number, Armoni would want to wear that number when he played.
“He means everything,” Armoni said. “That is my brother. That is my heart. That is my world.”
Playing basketball together motivated them and helped the Zieglers become who they are today as basketball players. Their mother, Charmane, can’t remember a time when they weren’t doing something basketball-related.
“Anybody that knows them back home will pretty much tell you if you saw Zakai or saw them together, they had a ball with them,” she said.
Armoni has just finished his sophomore season with Saint Peters. He averaged 11.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game, all increases from his freshman season. Even though the Peacocks struggled this season, finishing 12-16 and 11th in the MAAC, Ziegler was the second-leading scorer on the team while leading in steals with 1.6 per game.
Last season, the Ziegler brothers’ backyard dreams became a reality. Instead of playing 1v1 in the driveway, the two faced off in the March Madness Round of 64. The matchup between the brothers was the biggest storyline of the game.
Of course, Zakai said there was some pregame brotherly rivalry: “To clear the air, he’s never beat me one-on-one.” Armoni responded with: “I’m more athletic than him, and he’s a midget — what is he, 5-7, 5-6?”
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Zakai got the last laugh; however, with Tennessee routing Saint Peters 83-49, Zakai recorded a double-double to help the Volunteers secure the victory. Armoni failed to get on the scoreboard.
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